SOUTH AFRICA PLANS TO EXPAND SUDAN TRAINING PROGRAM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 003297 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/S DEPT PASS TO USAID/AFR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID SU SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA PLANS TO EXPAND SUDAN TRAINING PROGRAM REF: A. 05 PRETORIA 3007 ¶B. TRENKLE-TARIOT EMAIL OF 9/14/07 ¶C. 05 PRETORIA 4136 PRETORIA 00003297 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. South Africa expects to expand its ambitious program to train officials from southern Sudan. Begun in 2005, the program has brought more than 700 officials from Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to South Africa for classroom and practical training in fields as diverse as local government finances to diplomacy. Costing the SAG USD 2.35 million, this program is but one example of South Africa's emerging role as a donor in Africa and as a regional strategic policy leader in continental conflict resolution. Post will contribute USD 150,000 in bilateral development assistance to the SAG program in FY 2007. We believe these types of programs will reinforce USG-SAG cooperation on regional issues. Helping the South Africans to build capacity in their foreign assistance programs also serves U.S. long-term interests in Africa. END SUMMARY. -------------- Ambitious Training Program -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Since 2005, the South African Government (SAG) has undertaken an ambitious and wide-ranging capacity building program for officials and leaders from the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). The SAG just completed its thirteenth training session for GOSS officials, and plans two more sessions before the end of 2007. The standard training model is for the University of South Africa (UNISA) to provide two to three weeks of "theoretical" training in Pretoria, followed by a two week "practical" internship working inside a SAG governmental department. The U.S. Embassy hosted a group of southern Sudanese diplomats in June 2005 for one day during a training session on diplomacy and international relations (ref A). ¶3. (SBU) The training has covered a range of topics, including: governance and leadership, public administration, diplomacy, communications, finance, judicial services, correctional and police services, intergovernmental coordination, and local government management. While initially concentrated on Government of National Unity (GNU) and GOSS level leaders, the program has focused increasingly on state and county level officials. More than 700 officials have taken part in the training. To date, the SAG has self-funded the training at a cost of approximately Rand 16.45 million or approximately USD 2.35 million. The program coordinator on the GOSS side is the Ministry of Regional Cooperation. ¶4. (SBU) A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) delegation, led by Office Director Graham Maitland, is visiting Juba the week of September 17 (ref B) to examine the effectiveness of the program and plan future activities for 2008 - 2011. According to Phindile Xaba, DFA Deputy Director for the Horn of Africa, President Mbeki supports the program and is committed to its continuation, even expansion. Xaba noted that the SAG would like to move some of the training to southern Sudan, where they could train more officials at a lower cost. -------------- GOSS to Open Office -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Government of Southern Sudan strongly supports the SAG training program, according to John G. Nyuot Yoh, who heads the GOSS representation in South Africa. Yoh said that GOSS believes the program has been effective and should be expanded. Yoh is finalizing preparations to open a GOSS "liaison office" in Pretoria by the end of September. The office will be located in the Hatfield neighborhood at 440 Fehrsen Street, and will be headed by Yoh. (BIO NOTE: Yoh is a lecturer at the University of South Africa in the Department of Political Science, but is taking a two-year leave of absence to open the GOSS office. END NOTE.) -------------- PRETORIA 00003297 002.2 OF 002 U.S. Support and Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) We believe helping the South Africans to build capacity in their foreign assistance programs serves U.S. long-term interests in Africa. While still a recipient of foreign aid, South Africa is emerging as a donor in its own right in Africa (ref C) and as a regional strategic policy leader in continental conflict resolution. The SAG has entered into a series of agreements with other OECD donors, some multi-million dollar programs over several years, for programs in DRC, Sudan, Burundi, and Rwanda. The SAG terms these programs "trilateral agreements," reflecting the partnership between the SAG, the donor, and the recipient country. ¶7. (SBU) At the request of DFA, the U.S. Mission will provide USD 150,000 in bilateral development assistance to the SAG in FY 2007 to support the GOSS-DFA-UNISA program. (NOTE: Post is also providing USD 150,000 to the SAG Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) for a local government program in the DRC. END NOTE.) In addition to its impact in southern Sudan, we believe the program offers an opportunity to reinforce shared U.S.-South African interests on the continent and deepen cooperation on regional issues. Bost